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{{short description|1971 single by Bill Withers}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Grandma's Hands
| name = Grandma's Hands
Line 5: Line 6:
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[Bill Withers]]
| artist = [[Bill Withers]]
| album = [[Just As I Am (Bill Withers album)|Just As I Am]]
| album = [[Just as I Am (Bill Withers album)|Just as I Am]]
| B-side = Sweet Wanomi
| B-side = Sweet Wanomi
| released = 1971
| released = 1971
| format = [[Single (music)|7"]] record
| recorded =
| recorded =
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
| genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
| length =
| length = 2:00
| label = [[Sussex Records|Sussex]]
| label = [[Sussex Records|Sussex]]
| writer = [[Bill Withers]]
| writer = [[Bill Withers]]
| producer =
| producer = [[Booker T. Jones]]
| prev_title = [[Ain't No Sunshine]]
| prev_title = [[Ain't No Sunshine]]
| prev_year = 1971
| prev_year = 1971
| next_title = [[Lean on Me (song)|Lean on Me]]
| next_title = [[Lean on Me (song)|Lean on Me]]
| next_year = 1972
| next_year = 1972
| misc = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|TdrChyGb574|"Grandma's Hands"}} }}
}}
}}
"'''Grandma's Hands'''" is a song written by [[Bill Withers]] about his grandmother. It was included on his first album ''[[Just as I Am (Bill Withers album)|Just as I Am]]'' (1971), and was released as a single, reaching number 18 on the [[Black Singles Chart|Best Selling Soul Singles]] chart and 42 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5859|pure_url=yes}} Bill Withers - Billboard Singles] on allmusic.com</ref> In Canada it reached No. 37 in the [[RPM (magazine)|RPM Magazine]] charts. The song was produced by [[Booker T. Jones]] and also featured drummer [[Al Jackson, Jr.]] and bassist [[Duck Dunn]] from [[Booker T. & the MG's]].
"'''Grandma's Hands'''" is a song written by [[Bill Withers]] about his grandmother. It was included on his first album ''[[Just as I Am (Bill Withers album)|Just as I Am]]'' (1971), and was released as a single, reaching number 18 on the [[Black Singles Chart|Best Selling Soul Singles]] chart and 42 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5859|pure_url=yes}} Bill Withers – Billboard Singles] on allmusic.com</ref> In Canada, it reached No. 37 on the [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'' magazine]] charts. The song was produced by [[Booker T. Jones]] and also featured drummer [[Al Jackson Jr.]] and bassist [[Donald "Duck" Dunn]] from [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]]. "Grandma's Hands" was recently re-imagined in picture book form<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grandma's Hands – the Book – Based on Bill Withers' 1971 album, Just As I Am. |url=https://grandmashandsbook.com/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=grandmashandsbook.com}}</ref>, published by Bill Withers' wife Marcia, daughter Kori<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcia Withers and Kori Withers – Grandma's Hands – the Book |url=https://grandmashandsbook.com/about/marcia-withers-and-kori-withers/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=grandmashandsbook.com}}</ref>, and Freedom Three Publishing.


==Lyrics==
==Lyrics==
Withers' maternal grandfather, Grackus Monroe Galloway, had been born into [[slavery]]. In his youth, Withers attended church with his grandmother, Lula, where she would sing and clap along with the hymns. He later said: "It was spontaneous singing, there was nothing programmed. People got up and sang and everybody would join in. It was my favourite kind of singing."<ref>{{cite web|author=Rock and Pop Features |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/7928784/Bill-Withers-interview.html |title=Bill Withers interview |publisher= The Telegraph |date=2010-08-10 |accessdate=2014-06-07}}</ref>
Withers' maternal grandfather, Gracchus Monroe Galloway (1855–1937), had been born into [[slavery]]. As a child, Withers attended church with his maternal grandmother, Lula (1868–1953). He later said: "It was spontaneous singing, there was nothing programmed. People got up and sang and everybody would join in. It was my favorite kind of singing."<ref>{{cite web|author=Rock and Pop Features |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/7928784/Bill-Withers-interview.html |title=Bill Withers interview |publisher= The Telegraph |date=2010-08-10 |access-date=2014-06-07}}</ref>


A central theme of the song is the protective and nurturing force of the hands, as expressed in the last verse:
A theme of the song is the caring force of Grandma's hands, as expressed in the last verse:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
:"Grandma's hands used to hand me piece of candy.
:"Grandma's hands used to hand me piece of candy.
Line 42: Line 43:


==Cover versions==
==Cover versions==
The song has since been covered by many other artists, including [[Keb' Mo']], [[Al Jarreau]], [[Kristy Lee]], [[Meg Mac]], [[Merry Clayton]], [[Livingston Taylor]], [[The Staple Singers]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Tony Orlando]], [[ButterFly (Barbra Streisand album)|Barbra Streisand]], [[Gregory Porter]], [[Will Downing]], [[Take 6]], [[Josh Garrels]],<ref name="Decoration Day Vol.2">{{cite web|url=http://noisetrade.com/masonjarmusic/decoration-day-volume-2 |title=Mason Jar Music : Decoration Day, Volume 2 &#124; Free Music Download |publisher=Noisetrade.com |date= |accessdate=2014-06-07}}</ref> [[Marti Pellow]], [[Simply Red]], [[Starsailor (band)|Starsailor]], [[Gil Scott-Heron]], [[Everlast (musician)|Everlast]], [[Jeff Lorber]], [[Paddy Casey]] in [[Today FM]]'s Even Better Than The Real Thing and [[Ron Kenoly]]. It is also sampled for the hook of [[Blackstreet]]'s "[[No Diggity]]" and "[[Shout (Shout for England song)|Shout]]" by [[Shout (Shout for England song)|Shout for England]].
The song has since been covered by many other artists, including [[Keb' Mo']], [[Al Jarreau]], [[Kristy Lee]], [[Meg Mac]], [[Merry Clayton]], [[Livingston Taylor]], [[the Staple Singers]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Tony Orlando]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Gregory Porter]], [[Will Downing]], [[Take 6]], [[Josh Garrels]],<ref name="Decoration Day Vol.2">{{cite web|url=http://noisetrade.com/masonjarmusic/decoration-day-volume-2 |title=Mason Jar Music : Decoration Day, Volume 2 &#124; Free Music Download |publisher=Noisetrade.com |access-date=2014-06-07}}</ref> [[Marti Pellow]], [[Simply Red]], [[Starsailor (band)|Starsailor]], [[Gil Scott-Heron]], [[Everlast]], [[Jeff Lorber]], [[Paddy Casey]] in [[Today FM]]'s Even Better Than the Real Thing, [[Willie Nelson]], [[Ron Kenoly]], and [[Russ Taff]]. It is also sampled for the hook of [[Blackstreet]]'s "[[No Diggity]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whosampled.com/Bill-Withers/Grandma's-Hands/ |title=Grandma's Hands on WhoSampled |website=[[WhoSampled]] |access-date=2015-09-23}}</ref>, [[Ace Of Cups]]
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whosampled.com/Bill-Withers/Grandma's-Hands/ |title=Grandma's Hands on WhoSampled |accessdate=2015-09-23}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|bill-withers|grandmas-hands}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->



{{Bill Withers}}
{{Bill Withers}}
{{Willie Nelson singles|state=collapsed}}
{{Willie Nelson singles|state=collapsed}}


{{authority control}}
⚫
[[Category:Songs written by Bill Withers]]

⚫
[[Category:1971 songs]]
[[Category:1971 singles]]
[[Category:1971 singles]]
[[Category:Songs about old age]]
⚫
[[Category:Barbra Streisand songs]]
[[Category:Bill Withers songs]]
[[Category:Bill Withers songs]]
⚫
[[Category:Songs written by Bill Withers]]
[[Category:Sussex Records singles]]
[[Category:Sussex Records singles]]
[[Category:1971 songs]]
[[Category:Songs about grandparents]]
[[Category:Meg Mac songs]]
[[Category:Songs about old age]]



{{1970s-single-stub}}
{{1970s-single-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:20, 24 December 2024

"Grandma's Hands"
Single by Bill Withers
from the album Just as I Am
B-side"Sweet Wanomi"
Released1971
GenreSoul
Length2:00
LabelSussex
Songwriter(s)Bill Withers
Producer(s)Booker T. Jones
Bill Withers singles chronology
"Ain't No Sunshine"
(1971) 		"Grandma's Hands"
(1971) 		"Lean on Me"
(1972)
Official audio
"Grandma's Hands" on YouTube

"Grandma's Hands" is a song written by Bill Withers about his grandmother. It was included on his first album Just as I Am (1971), and was released as a single, reaching number 18 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart and 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] In Canada, it reached No. 37 on the RPM magazine charts. The song was produced by Booker T. Jones and also featured drummer Al Jackson Jr. and bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn from Booker T. & the M.G.'s. "Grandma's Hands" was recently re-imagined in picture book form[2], published by Bill Withers' wife Marcia, daughter Kori[3], and Freedom Three Publishing.

Lyrics

[edit]

Withers' maternal grandfather, Gracchus Monroe Galloway (1855–1937), had been born into slavery. As a child, Withers attended church with his maternal grandmother, Lula (1868–1953). He later said: "It was spontaneous singing, there was nothing programmed. People got up and sang and everybody would join in. It was my favorite kind of singing."[4]

A theme of the song is the caring force of Grandma's hands, as expressed in the last verse:

"Grandma's hands used to hand me piece of candy.
Grandma's hands picked me up each time I fell.
Grandma's hands, boy they really came in handy
She'd say, "Mattie don't you whip that boy.
What you want to spank him for?
He didn't drop no apple core,"
But I don't have Grandma anymore,
If I get to heaven I'll look for
Grandma's hands.
Um, mm, mm."

Cover versions

[edit]

The song has since been covered by many other artists, including Keb' Mo', Al Jarreau, Kristy Lee, Meg Mac, Merry Clayton, Livingston Taylor, the Staple Singers, Gladys Knight, Tony Orlando, Barbra Streisand, Gregory Porter, Will Downing, Take 6, Josh Garrels,[5] Marti Pellow, Simply Red, Starsailor, Gil Scott-Heron, Everlast, Jeff Lorber, Paddy Casey in Today FM's Even Better Than the Real Thing, Willie Nelson, Ron Kenoly, and Russ Taff. It is also sampled for the hook of Blackstreet's "No Diggity".[6], Ace Of Cups

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bill Withers – Billboard Singles on allmusic.com
  2. ^ "Grandma's Hands – the Book – Based on Bill Withers' 1971 album, Just As I Am". grandmashandsbook.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  3. ^ "Marcia Withers and Kori Withers – Grandma's Hands – the Book". grandmashandsbook.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  4. ^ Rock and Pop Features (2010-08-10). "Bill Withers interview". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  5. ^ "Mason Jar Music : Decoration Day, Volume 2 | Free Music Download". Noisetrade.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  6. ^ "Grandma's Hands on WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
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